U.S. to Hold Talks with U.A.E., Qatar in Airline Dispute

But the State Department is unlikely to take steps sought by U.S. airlines

The State Department intends to hold “informal, technical discussions” with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar next month about a dispute over Persian Gulf airlines’ funding and access to the U.S. market, according to people familiar with the matter.

But the State Department isn’t planning to move to formally renegotiate its liberal, “open skies” air treaties or freeze new flights to the U.S. by Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways or Qatar Airways, these people said.